Attachment for printing-presses.



No. 894,752. Y

PATENTED JULY z8, 1908. A. L. SMITH.

ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1907.

n errar) s'iAfTES ALTA L. SMITH, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1908.

Application filed. September 21, 1907. Serial No. 393,931.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALTA L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of I-Ienrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Printing-Presses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rIhisinvention relates to improvements in attachments for printing presses, and particularly to means for adjusting or registering the paper that is to be printed.

The invention comprises the reduction of a movable arm for automatica ly moving the paper fed into the machine to its correct position for receiving an impression.

The invention further comprises the production of an arm and projecting pin or member for engaging the paper fed into the press together with a reciprocating arm for moving the same, and an operating rod operated by the gripper bar connected by power transmitting means to the reciprocating rod for moving the same in timed relation to the Vmovement of the gripper bar so that the paper will be brought over into its roper position previous to the time when t e 1mpression is made.

An object in view is the production of an automatically moving point for causing paper to register or come in correct position for receiving an impression, and means connected with the gripper bar for moving the registering point.

Another object in view is the production of a reci rocating arm, a bell crank lever, and a link connecting the reciprocating arm and the lever for communicating motion therebetween so that means are provided for reciprocating or moving an arm for adjusting paper fed into the press so as to have the same in correct position for receiving an impression without the use of skilled labor.

NVith these and further objects in view, t'he invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described an claimed.

In the accompanying drawing :--Figure 1 is a top plan view of a printing press platen showing the present invention secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a platen with the present invention secured thereto,

the grippers being shown in their lowered position and the paper adjusted to its proper position for receiving` an impression. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the present invention removed from the press, certain parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detail perspective view of the automatically moving registering point or stop forming part of the present invention. Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detail, pers ective view of a clamping device used to ho d in position the supporting bar upon the platen.

In printing presses that are fed by hand, it is necessary to place the paper in the proper position for receiving an impression correctly from the type and in order to do this stops or points are provided, usually three in number against which the paper is positioned. At each insertion of a piece of paper the operator must see that the same is touching all three points or stops so as to be sure that the paper is in the proper position. In order to quickly place a piece of paper on the points just set forth considerable skill is required and long practice.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an attachment for presses that will obviate the necessity of the use of skilled experienced operators for use in feeding presses and will also provide a construction that positively causes the paper to take its proper position for receiving an impression.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates the platen of any desired kind provided with the usual tympan bails 2 and 3. The press is also provided with the usual guides or stops 4 and 5 and with a gripper bar 6 upon which are mounted the usual grippers 7 and 8. Secured to the platen 1 is a bar 9 which has formed thereon preferably integral members 10 and 11 through which is designed to reciprocate a bar 12. The bar 12 in turn has secured thereto an arm 13 that is preferably held in place by having one end 13 encircling the bar 12 and by the spring action of the metal to firmly hold the bar in position. If desired, a spring catch may be provided for gripping the bar 12, and then arm 13 secured thereto so that ar1n13will be moved when bar 12 is reciprocated, but will permit an easy adjustment or sliding on rod 12 for varying the position of point or guide 14. Guide 14 is preferably struck up from a piece of metal 15 formed with an encircling member 16 that is designed to grip arm 13 with suflicient pressure to hold the metal strip 15 and point 1.4 at any position along arm 13. In order to do this the metal strip 15 together with its gripping member 16 is made of spring material. Projecting forwardly from member 15 are points 17 and 18 that are beveled so as to have a sharp edge pointing away from arm 13 and toward stop 5. This provides means for positively causing the paper fed into the press to engage the stop 14 so as to permit stop 14 to move the same over against stop or guide 5.

Bar 9 is designed to support bar 12 and in turn is supported by a clamp or member 19 and by a hooked member 20. The clamp 19 is designed to grip bar 9 by a member 21 in a similar manner to the way in which the gripping member 16 grips arm 13 and is designed to permit member 19 to slide upon bar 9 as occasion may require. Gripping member 19 is designed to have a hook-shaped portion 22 passed over the tympan bail 3 and one corner of the platen 1 and hook-shaped member 2O is also designed to be hooked over one corner of platen 1 and the corner of bail 3, members 19 and 20 being positioned at opposite corners ofthe platen., as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Formed in one corner of hook member 22 and also in one corner of hook member 20 is an aperture which is designed to accommodate a pin for positively holding the device upon platen 1. When a pin is forced through these holes or apertures the same is designed to pass between the corner of bail 3 and the corner of platen 1. 1n case there is not suiticient room for the passage of the pin between bail 3 and platen 1, the corners of platen 1 may be iled oi for providing a passage way for the pin.

1n constructing bar 9 it is preferable to form members 10 and 11 integral therewith and also hook shaped member 20. 1f desired, also a supporting member or projection 23 may be formed with bar 9, or if desired the same may be made of a separate piece and riveted or otherwise firmly secured to bar 9. Member 23 and bar 9 make what might be termed a bifurcation or forked portion for accommodating a bell crank lever 24. Pivotally secured to one end of the bell crank lever is a link 25 which in turn is pivotally secured to bar 12 so that when lever 24 is moved by its operating bar 26, rod 12 will be reciprocated. Operatingl rod 26, as Seen in Fig. 1, is formed with a hollow threaded end 27 into which is iitted a member 23 that in turn is pivotally mounted at 29 to the gripper bar 6. By this structure, the operating rod 26 may be varied in length for accommodating various widths of platen. From this it will be observed that the present invention is connected with the gripper bar of the printing press and designed to be operated thereby so that when the gripper bar moves the mechanism forming the present invention will also be moved, and when the gripping bar is stationary the mechanism iormed according to the present invention will-be also stationary.

It is not necessary to use skilled experieneed operators for operating a press when the present invention is used, as the same will automatically Center or bring into proper position the paper fed into the machine without attention of the operator. lVhen a paper has been placed in the machine against points or stops 4 the operator is not eompelled to see that the same is also against stop 5, but may be positioned anywhere between stop 5 and stop 14. Then the press starts to close and the gripper bar moves for bringing grippers 7 and S to the lowered position for holding the paper, the same will operate bar 26. ln order to do this, bar 26 is mounted at 29 ol'l' the center of the pivotal point of bar 6 so that as bar 6 rotates for bringing grippers 7 and S to their lowered position, bar or rod 26 will be moved to the rear which will in turn bring bell crank lever 24 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and as will be evident when bell crank lever 2 4 is moved it will in turn move link 25 and bar 12. Upon this movement olE bar 12, arm 13 will move to the lel't across the platen or towards guide 5, and in doing so will carry with it guide or stop 14. As guide or stop 1-1v passes over platen 1 it will engage the paper partially positioned thereon and points 17 and 18 will pass beneath the paper and slide stop 14 and will force the paper over until it is against stop 5 and in position lor receiving an impression. 1n positioning the present invention upon a platen, member 2() is hooked over one corner and the pin is inserted through the aperture therein and then hook 22 is moved along bar or member 9 imtil it is passed over the opposite corner of platen 1, and a pin passed through the aperture contained therein. By the provision of a gripping member 21 a sustaining member is provided that may be adjusted along bar 9 so as to accommodate various sized platens within certain limitations. Ol' course, it will be evident that when using platens of large dimensions and also platens of comparatively small dimensions, the bar 9 will have to be made longer or shorter as the case may demand.

By the use of the present invention the unskilled operator may feed a press at comparatively high speed, as it is not necessary to place the paper in an exact position but only necessary to drop the same against stops 4, and the present invention will automatically bring to a proper position the paper for receiving an impression. This will obviate the necessity of using the throw-ell' to any considerable extent as is now necessary when a paper is not properly positioned in the machine.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an attachment for printing presses, stationary stops for engaging the paper along one side, and means for moving the paper at a right-angle to said stationary stops to adjust the same for receiving an impression, said adjusting means comprising a guide adapted to strike and push the aper, an adjustable arm carrying said guide, means for clasping said arm in position, a bar to which said arm is clasped, a second bar connected to the gripper bar of the press and reciprocated thereby, and a bell crank lever and link connecting said bars for reciprocating the first mentioned bar longitudinally.

2. In ra printing press, a stationary guide, a reciprocating guide for forcing paper on said stationary guide into a proper position for receiving an impression, means for moving said reciprocating guide, a reciprocating bar for moving said means, a supporting bar for holding said reciprocating bar in position, and removable pins positioned in proximity to the corners of said supporting bar vfor preventing the accidental removal of the same.

3. In a printing press, stationary guides for holding paper fed into the press, a reciprocating guide for forcing said paper against said stationary guides, a movable arm for moving said guide, a reciprocating bar for moving said arm, means for reciprocating said bar, a supporting bar removably secured to the press for supporting said reciprocating bar and securing pins for preventing accidental removal of said supporting bar.

4. In a printing press, stationary stops for paper fed thereto, a movable stop for forcing paper against said stationary stops, reciproeating means for moving said movable stop, a link connected to said reciprocating means, a bell crank lever connected with said link for operating the same, an operating rod for moving said bell crank lever, and means adjustably secured to said operating rod for connecting the same to the gripper bar of said press.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ALTA L. SMITH.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. FLETCHER, A. L. KITCHIN. 

